09 October 2010

The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) will take part in the two-day maritime anti-proliferation drills starting next Wednesday in the port city of Busan in South Korea, local media reported on Wednesday.

Japan would send frigates and shipborne helicopters to the exercise for role including searching and tracking, Jiji Press reported, citing officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The naval interdiction exercises under the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Imitative (PSI), titled "Eastern Endeavor," will be joined by 15 countries including the United States, Japan and Australia, according to the ministry. The PSI is aimed at foiling attempts to spread weapons of mass destruction.

"The exercises will demonstrate national efforts and willingness to deter proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, " the ministry said in a statement.

South Korea joined the initiative in 2009 after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted its second nuclear test.